Vitex trifolia L.

DeFilipps, Robert A. & Krupnick, Gary A., 2018, The medicinal plants of Myanmar, PhytoKeys 102, pp. 1-341 : 102

Vitex trifolia L.

Names.

Myanmar: kyaung-pan. English: Indian wild pepper.

Range.

Asia to Australia. Found growing in warmer parts of Myanmar, up to 915 m altitude.

Uses.

Leaf: Used to treat skin infections, disorders of the spleen, and rheumatism. Also used in preparations to regulate menstruation and bowel function, stimulate healing of sores, control fevers, neutralize poisons, and promote vitality. The crushed leaf juice and stir-fried leaves are used to treat varicose veins and other circulatory conditions. The leaf juice is applied topically to heal chronic sores; mixed with a bit of sesame oil and honey, and swabbed inside the ear to alleviate earaches and to clear ear infection; taken by itself for skin conditions and together with the juice from ground roots of thet-yin-gyi ( Croton persimilis ) for bloating and edema. Water from boiling the leaves is ingested for weakness and weight loss, malaria, menstrual problems, and conditions related to birthing, as well as for coughs and colds in infants and young children. A salad of the leaves mixed with garlic is eaten to relieve bloating, indigestion, and dysentery. Pillows stuffed with the dried leaves are used for insomnia and brain conditions. Leaf and Flower: Used as febrifuge and emetic. Root: Ground, and a paste made from them is given to children for ingesting or inhaling to reduce fever and treat cooking fume-related sickness.

Notes.

The medicinal uses of the species in India are discussed in Jain and DeFilipps (1991). Medicinal uses of the species in China are discussed in Duke and Ayensu (1985). Perry (1980) covers the medicinal uses of the species in the Malay Peninsula, Korea, China, and Indo-China, and Mongolia.

The essential oil of this species yields camphene, and pinene, terpenylacetate; the leaves contain aucubin, agunuside, casticin, orientin, isoorientin, and luteolin-7-glucoside; and the fruit contains vitricine. Leaf extracts have been found to inhibit the tuberculosis organism and also show anti-cancer activity ( Duke and Ayensu 1985).

References.

Nordal (1963), Agricultural Corporation (1980), Perry (1980), Forest Department (1999).